Flush plate and the like and method of manufacturing the same



June 22,1926, 1,-5s9,s9&

I. L. REEVES FLUSH PLATE AND THE LIKE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME Filed Oct. 22 1925 avwwwoz Patented June 1926. v

' UNITED STATES rssasasi PATENT OFFICE.

IRA L. REEVES, OI NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

' FLUSH PLATE AND THE LIKE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME.

Applicatlon'flled October as, as. will in. 04,101.

The present invention relates to improvements in flush plates, escutcheon plates, convenience outlets, door lates. and similar devices, and is part-icu arly concerned with plates of the general class above noted which are formed of casein. lBy casein I means the commercial roduct having a milk base, which is supplied in rod or sheet stock and sold under various trademarks and trade names such as Galolith,

The invention further consists in novel methods of manufacturing the articles mentioned above.

There have been several factors contributing to render prohibitive the use of casein in the manufacture of wall or door lates. Among these factors may be note dificulties of manufacture, such as an excessively high percentage of breakage and the difiiculties involved in accurately cutting and boring the sheets. \The outstanding reasonto make casein plates and apply them to walls or doors with the absolute assurance that the plates will always be retained flatly in position.

In carr ing out the invention deliberately arti cially warp the plates m one direction or the other during manufacture and then so position the screw holes in the plates that when the latter are applied, their normal warpin tendency will serve to retain them presse flatly against the supportin surfaces with which they may be associate From the foregoing it will be evident that the invention consists, partially at least, in the provision of an artificially warped casein plate. The invention further consists in so positioning the openin s for the attaching screws that when a p ate is secured against a wall its normal tendency will be to hold itself flat and straight. I

I have made the further discovery that the warping of the plates iscaused by differences 111 surface tension on op osite sides of the plates. By relievin or re ucin surface tension on one side 0 the plateji can easily produce and control such artificial warping.

One convenient method of doing this, is to place the plate upon a polishing block having a. curved bed. Whenthe usual pollshing operation is carried out n on such a block the frictionally generate heat and the mechanical action of the polishing tool upon the surface to be polished, relieve "or reduce the tension on said surface. The plate warps naturally, assuming a curvature predetermined by the shape of the bed on which the under "face of the plate rests.

In certain cases where no polishing is required, or where for any reason the above treatment is undesirable, the plates'may he rendered pliable by the application of heat, bent into the desired curvature, and then cooled While held. against the curved surface of a retaining torm or frame. The heating of the plates to render them pliable presents a new problem. Casein burns very easily and most of the usually acceptable heating methods are therefor unsuitable. The use of water either as a heat-" ing medium or as a means for preventing burning of the plates during heating is unsatisfactory because the casein is slightly hygroscopic. It will sweat for a long time after absorbing the water and resist subse uent polishing operations.

have devised a simple and efli'ective method of heating the platesv without burning them and without causing them to absorb moisture. Preferably the plate to be heated is laid upon a sultable bed and an apparatus for heating the plate without burning or moistening the same.

application, Serial Num-.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the retaining block or form which ll use to retain a heated and sheped plate during cool- Kl i bigure 3 is s perspective view of theirs proved polishing block Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the manner of attaching one form of plate constructed in accordance with the invention to o well or support Fl ure 5 ls e vlew similar to Figure l but s owing e modified form or? plate,

Figure 6 is s perspective view of the plate shown in l have elected to show the invention as enrhodled in. e flush *1 late, hut it is to he under stood that is e ceraehle of embodiment in @SGlllJQllQG luster convenience outlets, door plates and various generally similar articles o simplify the description clsizns sl P to the srtlcle slrnj ly a. plate, it l ,o understooe that 'terln l3 intended comprehend all of the various 1: lnnds well pier/es c The elf M shown 1 pers e q M ure 6, d :Llfillzm e not sect ls nro lded wi lodete push button the customary for the reception in her-out snring y ht pre he rate the necess ri y n i2: the As noted shove e se" once wsrped in one direction sew eye contlnne were in sues direction, werping cl l ots 18 is secured to the well e or accentuate the l A figure (The screws ll y screwed home in this warning tendency would tend to the p ate ends in and hulge its center out llnesmuch, however, as tlle intermediate portion of the plate is firmly retained eguinst such hulgin hy the screws, the warping terulenct can 05y serve to hold the plate ends llatly and firmly pressed against the well, Thus with the plate secured in correct osltion, its natural warping tendency will always act to retain it in such position.

ere shown figure) so If the plate were fist when applied to the.

essence with openings 11 corresponding to the open- 0 in s Ill, is warped in a, reverse direction. V en the plate is laid against a Wall 13 its intermediate portion contacts the well end its ends curve outwardly. The screws ll are passed through as closely as practiculole to the ends of the plate, so that when screwed home the plate ends are forced fistly against the well. The normal warping tendency of plute l0 losing to curve as in Figure 5 the intermediate portion will always press tightly against the well, end the plate will be retained in correct position.

Most oil the steps of the method by which the plates are manufactured, are well understood in the of working casein. instance, the plates roe" he proper size and shape n niece stools, The holes ll 1 12 end countersunk he conven The pletes polishe ordinary polishing tool" A. present invention is 41 119 method and s retus by which e polishing opereti utilized to ertl ly wer plates eds steel to enter the openinos ll 12 to 'crevent turning of the plate on the polishing hlocl; "L -leaving discovered as noted shove that the we ing of casein is caused by the surface tension thereof its neturelly :Eollows "hut polishing a plate on the "block 15 "will import u. permenent curvature to the plete, This curvature is predetermined lay the curvature of the convex bed. The frictionelly ,enerated heat, and in some instances, t e mechanical action of the polishlug tool, relieve surface tension on the upper face of the plate, and the natural warping hows the plate to approximately the shape of Figure 4.

ln Figures 1 and 2 I show apparatus for carryin out another method of producing the anti cial warp. This apparatus includes a load 18 (Figure 1) upon which the plate is laid and subjected to heat from a superimposed hot plate or iron 19. The plates are face under the rails 23. These rails overlying the plate edges retain the plates in bowed shape while cooling.

It will be noted that the apparatus of Figure 1 preferably includes an oil saturated pad 20 for interposition between the plate 10 and hot plate 21. I thus prevent burning of the casein. This highly hygroscopic material is also-prevented from absorbing any moisture, as it would do if water instead of oil were used.

In conclusion I should like to call attention to the fact that the apparatus for carrying out the method is subject to a wide variety of variations. The apparatus shown is merely indicative of some simple and ellicient instrumentalities for performing the required functions.

I claim:

1. A plate of casein having therein an opening and also curved.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an oblong casein plate of the class described artifically prewarped into a curvature transversely of its major axis.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a

' curved casein plate of the class described having screw holes arran ed in the having screw holes so arranged therein that when the plate is secured to a wall by screws passed through said holes, its normal warpmg tendency will retain it pressed flatly against the wall.

4:. As a new article of manufacture, a curved casein plate of the class described ortion thereof which is normal spaced mm a wall when the plate is laid thereagainst.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a

- mg them to curve them and curved casein plate of the class described having screw holes so arranged therein, that when the screws are screwed home, the outagainst the wall by said screws and the re mainder of the plate will be held against the wlall by the normal warping tendency of the ate. P 6. As a new article of manufacture a casein plate outwardly bowed so that when laid against a wall only its ends will contact therewith, and having screw holes therein spaced an. appreciable distance from said en 7. A plate of casein having therein an opening and curved, the plate also having several holes extending through it.

8. A method of making casein plates which includes the step of artificially warp ing the plates to curve the same and pre determine their future warping tendency.

9. A method of making casein plates which includes the step of polishing the plates and simultaneously artificially warppredetermine their future warping tendency.

10. A method of making casein plates which includes the step of holding them on a polishing block having a convex bed face.

11. A method of making casein plates of the class described, which includes the step of polishing a plate to relieve surface tension. on one face thereof by the heat frictionally generated in polishing, while providing clearance for the plate to warp as a result of the difi'erence in surface tension on its opposite faces.

IRA L. REEVES.

wardly curving plate portion will be forced 

